Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) differs from traditional radiation therapy for cancer patients. Treatment takes less time (four days versus seven weeks), it’s double the radiation dose and it spares the healthy tissue surrounding the tumor. SBRT is commonly used to treat lung and pancreatic cancers, as well as cancers that have spread to the liver, lung, adrenal glands and spine. Joe Chang, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor in Radiation Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center,...

Proton therapy has several advantages in treating liver cancer over traditional radiation therapy. Since the proton beam is so exact, larger dosages of radiation can be applied to the affected area, while sparing surrounding healthy tissue. Proton therapy also successfully addresses technical challenges, including liver movement during treatment when the patient breathes. Christopher Crane, M.D., Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer...